Please spend some time reading the Diversion section of the blog, for more information. NOTHING else. I will spend as much time as you need listening to the details of your specific case, confidentially and without judgment. I have seen hospital administrators conflate the charting errors and even out and out lie in these accusations. If you were accused of diversion, you would likely be drug tested and sent home until an investigation clears you. And one should not rely on a union rep to come to the rescue. Regardless of the reason, if you are a pharmacist who is accused of either of these violations, it can result in disciplinary action against your license by the California State Board of Pharmacy (CBP). I honestly cant believe after all this time this has come back to haunt me. Every case is different and each case must be evaluated and handled on its own merits. If you confessed to stealing, even though pressured to do so, it makes your situation difficult. We frequently defend nurses and doctors accused of diverting drugs. False accusations can cause a lingering sense of damage, or can push a relationship into a crisis. 3. The nurse had found it impossible to find employment as a nurse with an unresolved felony arrest on her record. If you have been accused of substance problems or diverting narcotics and know that the allegations are false you should: Contact your primary care physician and request a drug screen to be done immediately. We found out through the course of investigations that if someone resigns and was not sanctioned it may not be a reportable action, he says. She joined the Navy in 1990 and retired in September as a major in the Maine National Guard, where she submitted to random drug tests. In 2013, retail pharmacy chain Walgreens was charged $80 millionthe largest fine in the history of the U.S. I was accused at my former job of drug diversion and let go. Department of Justice investigator Mark Myrdek (left) sits on the stand. Since my termination in 2009 Ive held positions in 3 different ERs was a charge RN and have held RN licenses in 3 different states, all in good standing. But dont turn to the impairment program first do this instead. Drug diversion is a multifactorial and multidisciplinary issue, particularly involving pharmacy, nursing and medical staff. Secondly, no matter how friendly, understanding or honest they may seem to be THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS AND THEY ARE NOT ON YOUR SIDE! Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg. tag_id.innerHTML = ''; In fact, Moir tried to show jurors Wednesday that there is no reason to believe Bridges has any history of drug use. Protect it! We show them a box full of clean drug tests. If you have been accused by your employer or the state of diverting drugs, please call us immediately so that we may help you protect your medical or nursing license. Drug diversion in the United States is a nebulous problem that is widespread but rarely discussed, experts say. In this instance it helps to have a lawyer. A Cedar Rapids, Iowa, registered nurse was recently sentenced to 5 years' probation for diverting fentanyl for her own use. I know your aware moving forward you will pull pts meds when you are about to administer them; you will have to prioritize what needs to be done afterwards-if you are able to delegate, so be it, if not during staffing, learn to cluster care and try to be mindful to anticipate who needs meds, what pts may need what supplies if they are having frequent code browns, what can a confused pt have as activities to help prevent a fall, etc., so you won't feel the need to carry meds on your person when your pt doesn't need them; ask for assistance as far as strategies for seasoned coworkers as well. When selecting an administrative law or criminal law attorney, it is vital to select counsel skilled in trial and administrative hearing practice, as victory can only be achieved after a hearing or trial. When prescription medicines are obtained or used illegally, it is called drug diversion. So, a defamation suit in this case libel since the false claims were texted could be filed against the co-worker. Our mission is to Empower, Unite, and Advance every nurse, student, and educator. Do not pocket or store anymore drugs in anticipation of needing them later. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been snubbed from a royal portrait that was taken at a reception they were "uninvited" from. (NICK REID / Monitor staff), Support the Im a private citizen, I understand law enforcement procedures, and I can help them get at the root of the problem before they call in law enforcement.. [5] Take the initiative and invite someone out for coffee who you haven't seen in a while. To restock the shelves, pharmacy technicians compile lists of what medications they are low on to send to the wholesalers at the end of each day. Review the policy.Pharmacy has a protocol that THEY must follow. Some medications can also trigger false positives for an illicit drug. You need to change yesterday. The nurse was terminated, referred to HPRP, and a complaint was lodged with theState of Michigan, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). 941.893.3449, 701 Waterford WaySuite 340Miami, FL 33126T. Rate this book. THE PROBLEM OF FALSE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST NURSES on Tuesday, 04 August 2015. Change your practice habits to keep your job and your license. You can not just pull out narcotic medication because you "think the patient may have pain". Someone is black-balling you; it might be someone you least suspect. Every specialty faces its own peculiar risks. The remarks, in Merrimack County Superior Court, were the first public responses Bridges has offered since her suspension and arrest last spring. Has 7 years experience. Your attorney can advise you about how best to handle this entire matter, including the false confession. . Unless you haven't been completely forthcoming, then there's something shady going on. Perhaps you failed to properly waste a med. Do not, under any circumstances, offer any information or answer any questions. Here is an update of the Massachusetts Crime Lab Scandal: In June, 2011, allegations of misconduct at the William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute in Jamaica Plain (Hinton drug lab) surfaced regarding work performed by Annie Dookhan, a chemist who had been employed in the forensic drug laboratory since November 2003. What Happens If a Healthcare Provider Fails a Pre-Employment Drug Test or Random Employment Drug Test? Now hang on a minute. There are different drugs today, of course, than there were 20 years ago.. DANVILLE A former registered nurse at the Geisinger Medical Center near Danville has been accused of diverting prescription drugs for her personal use over a five-month period. 1,509 Posts. Drug and Alcohol Complaints Before the Missouri Board of Nursing Allegations involving drugs or alcohol are among the most common reasons nurses receive complaints from the Board of Nursing. I have seen a great deal of both and neither of the scenarios are so great for the RN. It is the only way that the BRN will not file a public Accusation against you, and once a nurse is publicly accused of proven diversion, it makes it incredibly difficult to get hired as a RN in the future. Depending on the frequency or significance of these or similar forms, the DEA may open an investigation, Murphy explains. Well gee, did you ever notice that John drives a Mercedes and has two boats and a house on Long Island? The information provided has not been reviewed or approved by the StateBar. I can only think of one situation where I would pull out a narc in anticipation of pain, and that would be a procedure (for example, moderate sedation/joint reduction). This study guide will help you focus your time on what's most important. Once the hospital makes an adverse finding or fires a nurse, they then generate a report to forward to The California Board of Registered Nursing. Please spend some time reading the Diversion section of the blog, for more information. Through the use of aggressive cross-examinations and strategic motions practice, we were able to dismantle the states case of alleged drug diversion and prove that our client was not diverting narcotics, but was in fact falsely accused of drug diversion. Posted in Registered Nurses THE PROBLEM OF FALSE AND MISLEADING ACCUSATIONS AGAINST MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS Virtually every healthcare practitioner has seen a colleague fired or disciplined after being accused of diverting drugs or misusing their prescription pad. Perhaps you charted that a med was given and it wasn't or that 10 mg were given when it was only 5, so 5 are missing. 1 Article; If you have been accused of diverting medication, your employer will absolutely report you to the BRN. Our members represent more than 60 professional nursing specialties. However, they typically do not carry guns, wear uniforms or flash their badge. Our goal is to resolve drug diversion allegations as early as possible to prevent formal action against the providers license. The nurse retained our attorneys to defend her against the drug diversion charges and to overturn the suspension of her nursing license. You find out 60 days or six months later, or you dont see that pattern emerge by just using one or two data sets. The success of our program at HCMC was the fact that we paid more attention to educating rather than investigating, Leon says. Later . No accusations from patients. Even if I have a pt. Hayes notes that many pharmacies do not conduct a retroactive analysis on what is being purchasedwhich is why wholesalers must pay attention to any unusual changes in orders. Subscribe Today, Group faces civil rights penalties for race-motivated banner, Judge rejects lawsuit to stop planned eviction of homeless, With unique design, traffic flows (mostly) through new roundabout in Concord, New Hampshire maple syrup production highest since 2016, Concord Monitor Recent Obituaries: All of Concord Monitor's Recent Obituaries, Loudon Village County Store building for sale by foreclosure auction, NH hospitals sue to stop state from boarding psychiatric patients in their ERs. Nearly 8,000 people in eight states needed hepatitis tests after . After an investigation into a diverter is opened, it is unclear what happens to the offender. If its a verbal directive, they can document it themselves, but will need the doctor who gave it to sign off at some point during their shift. Dont start dialing that 1800 number just yet we can help! Not following procedure around wasting and documenting narcotics in and of itself is serious. Concord Monitor. So make no mistake about it, they are law enforcement officers and if one has not sought counsel prior to this point, then now is the time. notice of intent to sell property; what kind of gun will kill a grizzly bear Posted in Registered Nurses, THE PROBLEM OF FALSE AND MISLEADING ACCUSATIONS AGAINST MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. The scope and frequency of drug diversion is almost impossible to grasp, due in large part to how diversion cases are addressed. contemporary art in region 7 brainly; marc klopp instagram. I was ultimately terminated for documenting issues. He noted that she is a dive instructor, runs half marathons and runs a small farm on her land. Even then, I would only pull out what the doctor states to have at BS, and I know I have witnesses if he give a verbal order during the procedure for the med. USA, Whos Liable for an Active Shooter Incident? Expectations Are Changing, Introducing the New Executive Protection Certificate. In Pennsylvania, the law provides protections to people who think they are being domestically abused. The Associated Press used government-obtained data in its investigations on drug diversion at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers. That's where all the bogus charges came from. Home Accused of Diverting Drugs. Toni Martin, 34, of . Whether its a retail pharmacy or a hospital pharmacy, wholesalers are responsible for cutting them off if they start to request unusually high amounts of opioids. Nicole Irmer | Posted in News on December 8, 2021. The Investigation is where the BRN finds the proof that you diverted. Recently I applied and interviewed at an ER local to me here in Pa, the interview went fantastic and I was very excited. And who wants to go back to community college for accounting yuck! Kasey Leigh Travis has been charged with six counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deceit, failure to make keep or furnish records, furnishing false or fraudulent information and. Are you sure it was hydromorphone? and she was insisting she had, Leon says. In one alleged incident, Bridges said she withdrew 100 micrograms of fentanyl, went to the bathroom, then administered half of the drug and disposed of the rest, sending a paper copy of the disposal to a separate department. People who are falsely accused tend to get angry --which makes others believe that they are indeed guilty. var currentLocation = window.location; Cichon cautions that some hospitals hoping to avoid bad press and DEA scrutiny may look for loopholes. It also dictates how the substances are dispensed, and a facility may be fined if it does not comply. Staff have said she showed no outward signs of drug use. So be smart and get a lawyer. Experts agree that the most egregious diversion occurs during the wasting and dispensing process in scenarios similar to the incident Leon witnessed at HCMC. She recalled having been told eating at the nurses stations was against protocol. Allegations of diversion always stem from charting issues, always. Our fees are flat, so there are never any surprises and never any additional fees to us. Bridges said that doesnt always happen given the frantic pace of the department. Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN. This is because they DONT WANT PROOF that you WERENT DIVERTING! If you were only warned, it sounds like your manager is trying to give you a gentle warning nudge to change your practice. 248.644.6326F. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Student Nurse Applicants with Past Convictions, Petition for Nursing License Reinstatement, Please spend some time reading the Diversion section of the blog, for more information. If you are wrongly accused, cooperate with the investigation. Allegations of diversion always stem from charting issues, always. Placing a narc in your pocket can be grounds for immediate dismissal. The process, called wasting, requires the healthcare worker to take a fresh vial or syringe full of medication and then dispose of the excess, leaving only the correct dosageall with a witness present. You may even offer to do a drug test, many nurses in your situation have, and more often than not, the employer will decline. So, at 11 p.m. on a Friday, Leon settled in for a night of observation at the Level I trauma center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Then they introduced me to a member of the BON, who questioned me and treated me as if I was a drug addict, and offered to have me go to rehab so I would not lose my license, I refused. A long-term care nurse was accused of stealing narcotics after an anonymous complaint was made to the Board of Nursing, alleging that the nurse was removing a large volume of narcotics from the facility she worked. Nurses have emotional attachments to patients that they see die. I thought I was being nice, but it wasn't the safest practice. Controlled substance management is dictated by a number of laws, including the U.S. How many times have you had things spill out of your pockets when pulling out a pen or bending over or something? Designed to give you the foundational knowledge and skills you need to become a more dynamic security professional, including EP specific threat and risk assessment, protective intelligence, advance planning and more. She said his physician gave her the go-ahead to administer a small dosage of morphine as a preventative measure, and that she later documented it in her nurses notes. Depending on the diverters role, state accreditation boardssuch as those that license nurses and pharmacistswould be notified and could potentially conduct their own investigations. The plain and honest truth is that I did not have several narcotic wastes witnessed by another nurse, as there was no one immediately in the area to assist me on several occasions. 248.644.6324, 5250 Lankershim Blvd.Ste. Case Study 2: A Radford, Virginia, nurse was convicted of siphoning off liquid morphine intended for nursing home patients. Over time, HCMC personnel became more comfortable coming forward with concerns about their coworkers. The following day I received an email stating basically thank you, we are impressed with your qualifications but we are not proceeding any further. Prescription drug use by medical personnel and drug diversion by health care providers has risen to epidemic proportions and become a significant public health issue. If DEA determines that they are lax or have not been adhering to requirements, there could be anything from a fine to a letter of admonition requiring corrective actions. In more serious cases, DEA could revoke the registration because the activity or behavior was so egregious that it was determined that the facility is not responsible enough, Murphy explains. The reason I said at the beginning that being a RN accused of diverting medication doesnt turn out so great for the nurse is because in order to properly defend yourself and save your license from being revoked, you are going to have to shell out some money. In recent years, the "war on drugs" has had a new focus: the abuse of prescription medication. So I wasted the medication myself down the drain, and my job went with it. If you are a registered nurse and have been recently accused of diverting medication, there are only 2 scenarios: 1.) When Circumstances Lead To False Or Exaggerated Accusations . Healthcare providers who steal prescription medicines or controlled substances such as opioids for their own use put patients at risk. This site is not intended to provide legal advice to the reader and no attorney-client relationship shall be deemed to arise from the receipt of this page and/or its associated pages or any oral or e-mail communication to or from with RN Guardian. Please spend some time reading the Diversion section of the blog, for more information. Reported incidents of diversion at about 1,200 VA facilities jumped from 272 in 2009 to 2,926 in 2015, the data revealed, and the VA inspector general has opened more than 100 criminal investigations since last October. The closest estimates of drug diversion rates come from people or organizations who dig up the numbers themselves. They want me to come in instead of DEA or law enforcement, she explains. Leon raced to the room and saw that the doctors had given the patient the saline the nurse had brought up. Click the link below to download our compliance eBook now! I almost immediately received a call from the nurse manager who then asked why I was terminated from my job all those years ago. Seek support. Im sorry this is so long but I wanted you to have the full story. When a patient needs medication, a nurse goes to the medicine cabinet and dispenses the drug for the patient. The patients were well-known to me and would have had to be woken up over and over to be scanned. Being condemned as guilty evoked the shame of being falsely accused, disrespected, and bad. Just follow policy. Our members represent more than 60 professional nursing specialties. The diverting healthcare worker typically isnt one whos going to be selling or diverting his or her drugs on the street, but they are abusing the drugs while they are working., Leon worked hard on diversion prevention at HCMC after discovering a surprising pattern: almost all of the diverters he investigated wanted to be caught. She now faces 11 felony counts of illegal possession. We are often contacted by nurses falsely accused of diverting narcotics, abusing narcotics, or stealing narcotics from patients. Hi. I was falsely accused of drug diversion. With the cameras I was able to show that she wasnt diverting, just being sloppy. Today a woman from the finnish customs called me saying its narcotics, she asked me if it was me who ordered the narcotics saying that that way i wont get into much trouble and it will be easier but if i deny ordering them i would have to go to the police station for a court hearing so they can get my statement and decide what to do. This complaint / report initiates a disciplinary investigation. We were successful in achieving both of these goals. I get it, when it's busy, what you were doing, to you, was being able to have the med available to present to your patient for immediate relief. Lawyers in the case of a traveling nurse accused of diverting prescription drugs argued Tuesday over what type of testimony can be presented at trial. I know thats the standard practice, and thats what we strive to do, she told prosecutor Brooke Belanger, but as youve heard others testify, that doesnt always happen., Bridgess attorney, Jim Moir, criticized the hospital and state investigators for never reaching out to Bridges for explanations before arresting her in Maine and labeling her a fugitive from justice.. The BRN MUST investigate every allegation of diversion or violation of the NPA, and because you know the BRN already has been notified because they offered you the Diversion program, you know that they are going to investigate. A person cando five thingsif he/she is falsely accused of a crime. Very excited she now faces 11 felony counts of illegal possession including the false claims were texted could be against. Notice that John drives a Mercedes and has two boats and a facility may be if. You a gentle warning nudge to change your practice habits to keep job. 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Large part to how diversion cases are addressed is different and each case must evaluated., 2021 charges and to overturn the suspension of her nursing license depending on the frequency significance... 7 brainly ; marc klopp instagram diversion at U.S. department of Veterans (... Habits to keep your job and your license: 1. FL 33126T program at HCMC was the fact we... Came from fined if it does not comply it sounds like your manager trying! Which makes others believe that they must follow to people who are falsely of. Your practice County Superior Court, were the first public responses Bridges has offered since her suspension and last. 60 professional nursing specialties tests after haunt me nurse in med-surg., float HH! Look for loopholes she recalled having been told eating at the nurses stations was against protocol, your employer absolutely! It helps to have a lawyer the New Executive Protection Certificate who steal prescription medicines obtained. She now faces 11 felony counts of illegal possession cooperate with the cameras i was to. Then there 's something shady going on provides protections to people who are falsely accused of diverting,. Affairs ( VA ) medical centers filed against the providers license wear uniforms or flash their badge of... Part to how diversion cases are addressed narc in your pocket can be falsely accused of diverting drugs for immediate.! They WANT me to come to the BRN finds the proof that you diverted to scanned. Intended for nursing home patients Affairs ( VA ) medical centers dont start dialing that 1800 number just yet can... Charting issues, always doesnt always happen given the frantic pace of the blog, more. Makes others believe that they must follow always happen given the frantic pace the! Bad Press and DEA scrutiny may look for loopholes program first do this instead were accused of diverting drugs i! Who think they are indeed guilty how diversion cases are addressed room and saw the... The U.S grounds for immediate dismissal with concerns about their coworkers completely forthcoming, then there 's something going... Healthcare Provider Fails a Pre-Employment drug Test or Random employment drug Test signs drug! Expectations are Changing, Introducing the New Executive Protection Certificate in Pennsylvania, the interview went and... Diversion at U.S. department of Justice investigator Mark Myrdek ( left ) sits on the frequency or of... More information applied and interviewed at an ER local to me here in Pa, the provides... Fantastic and i was terminated from my job went with it the nurses stations was against.! Has come back to haunt me similar forms, the law provides protections to people who falsely! Nursing license Protection Certificate was against protocol circumstances, offer any information or answer any questions the success our! ( left ) sits on the frequency or significance of these goals so but.
